Systems, methods, and computer program products for scheduled shared resource security

Abstract

A system for managing security for a shared resource, e.g., a conference room, office, lab or other premises, includes a reservation-based scheduler configured to accept user requests from multiple users for reservation of the resource and that responsively generates a usage schedule for the resource. The system further includes a security controller, operatively associated with the scheduler, that manages security of the resource responsive to the generated usage schedule. The scheduler may be configured to associate a security configuration with tie usage schedule, and the security controller may manage security of the resource responsive to the usage schedule and the associated security configuration.

1 . A system for managing security for a shared resource, the system comprising: 
 a reservation-based scheduler configured to accept user requests from multiple users for reservation of the resource and to responsively generate a usage schedule for the resource; and    a security controller, operatively associated with the scheduler, that manages security of the resource responsive to the generated usage schedule.    
   
   
       2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the scheduler is configured to associate a security configuration with the usage schedule, and wherein the security controller manages security of the resource responsive to the usage schedule and the associated security configuration.  
   
   
       3 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the shared resource comprises premises.  
   
   
       4 . A system according to  claim 3 , wherein the scheduler is configured to associate a security configuration with the usage schedule, and wherein the security controller controls the premises responsive to the usage schedule and the associated security configuration.  
   
   
       5 . A system according to  claim 4 , wherein the scheduler is configured to identify the security configuration responsive to a user request.  
   
   
       6 . A system according to  claim 4 , wherein the security controller is operative to modify the security configuration responsive to an input from a security device at the premises.  
   
   
       7 . A system according to  claim 3 , wherein the security controller is operative to interact with an access control device, a user input device, a security sensor, a security indicator and/or a security alarm located at the premises based on the generated usage schedule.  
   
   
       8 . A system according to  claim 3 , wherein the security controller is operative to impede unauthorized access to the premises responsive to the usage schedule.  
   
   
       9 . A system according to  claim 3 , wherein the security controller is operative to cause an indicator at the premises to provide an indication of a presence of an unauthorized party responsive to the usage schedule.  
   
   
       10 . A method of managing security for a shared resource, the method comprising the following acts performed by a computer: 
 accepting user requests from multiple users for reservation of the resource;    responsively generating a usage schedule for the resource; and    managing security of the resource responsive to the generated usage schedule.    
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising associating a security configuration with the usage schedule, and wherein managing security of the resource responsive to the generated usage schedule comprises managing security of the resource responsive to the usage schedule and the associated security configuration.  
   
   
       12 . A method of according to  claim 10 , wherein the shared resource comprises premises.  
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising associating a security configuration with the usage schedule, and wherein managing security at the premises comprises managing security at the premises responsive to the usage schedule and the associated security configuration.  
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising identifying the security configuration responsive to a user request.  
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein managing security at the premises comprises interacting with an access control device, a user input device, a security sensor, a security indicator and/or a security alarm located at the premises based on the generated usage schedule.  
   
   
       16 . A computer program product for managing security of a shared resource, the computer program- product comprising computer readable program code embodied in a computer readable storage medium, the computer readable program code comprising: 
 code configured to accept user requests from multiple users for reservation of the resource and to responsively generate a usage schedule for the resource; and    code configured to manage security of the resource responsive to the generated usage schedule.    
   
   
       17 . A computer program according to  claim 16 , wherein the computer readable program code further comprises code configured to associate a security configuration with the usage schedule, and wherein the code configured to manage security of the resource responsive to the generated usage schedule is configured to manage security of the resource responsive to the usage schedule and the associated security configuration.  
   
   
       18 . A computer program product according to  claim 16 , wherein the shared resource comprises premises.  
   
   
       19 . A computer program product according to  claim 18 , wherein the code configured to manage security of the resource responsive to the generated usage schedule comprises code configured to interact with an access control device, a user input device, a security sensor, a security indicator and/or a security alarm located at the premises based on the generated usage schedule.